 Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
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I got the Triumph saddlebags as part of the $1,200 promotion, but so far I'm not impressed. I like the traditional look to the bags, but that's about all I like about them. The leather feels somewhat cheap but I'm much more concerned about the how they are attached together over the rear fender. As you can see in the attached photo, the bags are connected together with plastic wire ties  that not only look cheesy but I'm afraid will scratch the fender like crazy as they rub against it. Does anyone else have these bags and can comment? Do the slanted bags that are available connect the same way? 
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 300
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 300 |
i also have the factory bags,, mine have a leather lace [shoestring] approx. 18" long. somebody has lost yours, or give them to their buddy. check with your dealer,, they SHOULD know the proper gear.....ty-wraps??????????give me a break!!!!!!!
some people are like slinkies, they serve no purpose, but, they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4 |
I don't mean to make you feel too bad, but youz guyz shoulda asked about the Trump bags here first. Many better products for far less $$.  Anyway, you also need to put some felt or soft nonskid material underneath those cross overs or you will be swearing at yourself after you see how much they scratch the fender up after awhile.
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
No way those are the stock ties, if the dealer can't get you the right ties, get some leather shoestrings from a store. Even so, I wonder if those leather crossovers are'nt going to wear off some paint with time. Pad them with something?
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527 |
You made the same mistake I did when I bought my speedie. I added the Triumph bags.
They were pieces of feces to say the least. There are many more economic and quality options for bags in the aftermarket realm. Those Triumph bags are cheap , overpriced and a disappointment.
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726 |
Keep in mind that just the bag yokes (even with the correct laces) will eventually mar the finish of your bike. I cut and hot glued some felt covered neoprene to the back of the straps of mine after I noticed a damaged area of the fender. It will continually saw back and forth with movement. The leather alone will cause damage, but there's also the chance of trapped sand, dirt, etc. that would speed up the process.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,297
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,297 |
In Between the Dark and the Light..
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
If you're going to use that yoke, go to your local auto parts store and get some paint-protector 3M clear plastic. My first bags were Ameritex throw-overs and the yoke scuffed the heck out of my fender, even though the yoke had a layer of protective material under it.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
Member
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61 |
Quote:
i also have the factory bags,, mine have a leather lace [shoestring] approx. 18" long. somebody has lost yours, or give them to their buddy. check with your dealer,, they SHOULD know the proper gear.....ty-wraps??????????give me a break!!!!!!!
There were a couple of shoe laces in the box that came back with the parts. Now I know what they were for!
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
I bought my bike from a dealer that first sold it to someone else, then traded it back in after 3 months. They had those bags under the pillion pad. First thing I did was ditch the pad, and the paint was indeed marred. The pillion pad holds them tightly to the fender, the rack does not. I cut off the yoke and bolted them solidly at the bag support bolt holes with longer bolts, aluminum reinforcing plate inside, and spacers. Looks better with the rack anyway. If your bags move around, like maybe something heavier on the right side, the bag could hit and bend chainguard like it did mine.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362 |
 K-Drive mounted bags.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 828
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 828 |
Quote:
EZ Brackets.
+1
Not that this will help with your dilemma but Triumph is coming out with larger bags for the 2008 model. If you look at the pics of the new bike there are a couple where they have the bags on them.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726 |
You already have your bags. What you need to do is protect the finish of your bike. What John said above, getting 3M film to protect the area under the yokes is absolutely the best way to be sure you do not mar the finish. Although I protected mine differently, I believe the 3M film would be the best way to be sure. It can come off easily and the paint WILL be protected.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172 |
Even the 3M film will probably wear away over time. Dirt and road grit will get under those straps and make them act like emery paper. The best solution is get rid of the straps and go with a side mount system - K-drive or Easy Brackets. In either case, you may want to add a piece of plexiglass or lucite inside each bag to spread the stress and keep the mounts from pulling through the bags. And I agree with the others above.... the Triumph bags aren't worth the money. Sorry..... 
More flags
More fun!
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
Easy brackets and independant bag makers for sure. Best way to go. Auburn are very nice but also expensive. I never liked throw over bags they wear on the paint eventually from motion and vibration.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 322
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 322 |
Auburn bags are great, but the leather ones are also weight a bit more than the synthetic. I have both leather and synthetic bags from Auburn. They are both very well made. I've had the leather bags on my Harley for 3 years and about 25000 miles, everything from days and days of hot Hawaiian sun to rides of 3 or 4 days at a time in cold pouring rain. No problems. Good place to order Auburn bags.. http://leatherneckjim.safeshopper.com/and Fox Creek Leather... great folks, when I was there I tried on about 7 or 8 jackets till I found one that fit me perfectly. Another US made quality product, as is Auburn! http://www.foxcreekleather.com/Mary
Krashdagon aka Snappy
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
Member
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61 |
Quote:
Even the 3M film will probably wear away over time. Dirt and road grit will get under those straps and make them act like emery paper.
The best solution is get rid of the straps and go with a side mount system - K-drive or Easy Brackets. In either case, you may want to add a piece of plexiglass or lucite inside each bag to spread the stress and keep the mounts from pulling through the bags.
And I agree with the others above.... the Triumph bags aren't worth the money
Can the Easy Brackets be used with the Triumph bags?
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 706
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Can the Easy Brackets be used with the Triumph bags?
Easy Brackets can be used with almost any bags. For the Triumph bags you will have to drill holes in the inboard panel of the bag. That panel is plastic and not leather, unless the bags have changed since I bought mine. I drilled through the plastic panel and attached the bag directly to the Easy Brackets with the supplied bolts and some large washers that I supplied. Some guys use a piece of plexiglass or something similar to reinforce the inboard panel of the bag. Also, the bolts to attach the bags were longer than they needed to be for my setup. I found the same bolt at Ace Hardware that was a quarter inch shorter.
The only (small) downside that I noticed was that the bags stood out about an inch further from the bike with the Easy Brackets. I thought that was slightly less esthetically pleasing, but that is just my own taste. More practically, if your bags are loaded heavy, it increases the moment of inertia slightly when you lean into corners.
I don't mind the small capacity of the Triumph bags but I really dislike the strap-over-fender setup. It's not secure, the bags flop and slide around, and it scuffs the fender. I'm really surprised that Triumph hasn't come up with a better solution. But then, I get the feeling that the America/Speedmaster line is the poor stepchild of Triumph.
Best regards and Merry Christmas,
Cody
I was born a long ways from where I was supposed to be. - Bob Dylan
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
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Thanks everyone, for the help and advice!
Martin
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
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I've made a decision to go with the Sequoia Bags from Leatherneck Jim using the EZ Brackets. The Triumph bags I'll sell here or on eBay.
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 31 |
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26 |
took triumph cloth bags off my 05 ba.went with saddleman luggage mounted to B- bar luggage rack.will give triumph cloth bags away.just pay shipping.if can't give away,will put in barn for rats to nest in.lol
I DON'T WANT A PICKLE--JUST WANT TO RIDE MY MOTORSICKLE
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 362
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 362 |
bigliar, let me know shipping to Choctaw, OK (zip 73020) and I'll relieve you of your burden.  Sent you a PM. Richard
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Re: Triumph Saddlebags - Not So Sure...
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 371 Likes: 2
Adjunct
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I made a point of NOT getting them. There are so many other types out there. Also I wanted practicality over looks
A dog, a bike, a ute,
Now in the deep south.. Newcastle.
Cold winters, cold rain
Come on summer
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